In its continuing GE 2006 editorial series, Think Centre (TC) looks at another determinant that may boost or capitulate the Opposition's electoral chances - the media.
And so, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) released its manifesto after having dished out its candidates conveyor-belt style to the media. After been pre-empted by the Workers' Party's (WP) unveiling of its manifesto. Before it could finalise the line-up of its new candidates for media introductions, and possibly ahead of the final polishing stroke to their manifesto drafts.
Why such elaborate planning, intensive preparation and attention-craving, you ask? Well, because the PAP had to show its mettle and remind the people that they were still and forever would be the unbeatables. And what better medium than through the news-hungry, partially-gagged local media to sublimally convey this message.
We were told that our local media is a uniquely-Singaporean medium which did not function as the ideological Fourth Estate, as societal conscience's check-and-balance on the State, or as a free-to-air (pun intended) entity that reported ad verbatim. Yet the media's role in Singapore GEs would surely be more definitive and convincing than even the published manifestos of various contesting parties.
Sources familiar with the local media circuit share with us that during the lead-up to the Nomination Day, all media were free to report and comment favourably on almost any political party. But once the nine-day (the minimum campaign period by law) campaigning kicked in, a certain quota or ratio of positive, factual media exposures was set as if in clockwork precision.
Which was hardly why age-old conspiracy theories (often cited by the Opposition) of media blackouts (though lesser of negative, speculative media reporting these days) and biased reporting were de rigeur in any GE.
What was more disturbing was how majority of Singaporeans chose to faithfully buy (in cents and sense) the local media reports; judge based on singular news source; dismiss the Opposition (no second chance even) entirely; vote grudgingly for ruling PAP (because Opposition were perceived as not-up-to-mark); blame the Opposition wholly for being weak; and dismiss them as deserved losers!
So if you were expecting this editorial to dissect, cross analyse and judge various party manifestos (for parties which released theirs) and campaign platforms (for parties that did not manifest anything), think again. If you are able to read this editorial, you can surf-search-read-digest-mull-critique all by yourself, whichever parties' manifestos and platforms for this GE. Else, you should catch every Opposition election rally and soak in this once-in-five-years phenomenon (after all, you would be fed full details of PAP rallies in your local media) for your benefit.
Ultimately, the media is but a third party (pun intended). Would you - an educated, sophisticated and smart consumer - in daily life (whether buying a flat,booking a car,choosing a school etc) believe, judge and decide on choices in life, based purely on third-party information? The choice is yours.
Sources and Relevant Links:
Think Centre General Elections (GE) 2006 15 April 2006 As part of its coverage of General Elections (GE) 2006, Think Centre moves into gear with week-by-week editorials on potential issues that matter to the Opposition
